Photokina report

I left home at 6.15 this morning and got to Cologne, after a 40 minute delay due to a power outage at about 10.15.
I joined the huge queue to get in, which thankfully moved really fast.
I then made a Bee line for Pentax.

Is the K-5 worth the wait? Yes! I have found my camera , I am in love .

I got my mucky paws on one and had a good play. Sadly I lost my SD card between home and Cologne so no piccies with it. Sorry.

It is fast. Someone else asked if it was only fast with the new 18-135 - and he was allowed to change lenses. He was impressed with the speed - still not super fast with the 60-250, but markedly faster. With the new lens it is amazing.
I liked the new lens. It felt good with the camera- well balanced, and sturdy.

Pentax only had a fairly small stand but it was popular I am pleased to say.

They also had a 645D to play with - but the men had cornered the market in that toy so I didn't get to try it.

I tried the K-r and the new Optios too.
I liked the RZ10 very much, and the RS1000 has some seriously silly skins available .

Canon had nearly an entire hall to themselves huge , but they did seem a bit more reluctant to let people play from what I could see. Nikon and Sony also had big stands.

I saw all I wanted, and loved the photo exhibitions around the halls. I also got the OpTech sling adapter to convert my neck-strap into a sling (€10).

I had a look at BlackRapid too - they are introducing QR plates to their range, starting with Manfrotto, then Gitzo and finally Arca Swiss.

The future looks to be 3D and Chinese - I would say half the exhibitors were from China.

Another delayed train journey home, but I made it.

Your exhausted Photokina reporter Gwyn.

Sorry about the piccies guys. Nowhere there to buy a replacement card either

Thanks for the report Gwyn!

A hall just for Canon? well, their customers are paying for it - from my experience of the costs of putting such stands on, it would have been cheaper for them to give every visitor a free DSLR. No joke. So don't feel jealous of them, just pitty...


(re: your lost card - I have that problem with USB sticks and pens, I think mice eat them...)

Fancy losing the memory card Gwyn

Still, glad you have finally found a camera that suits you .. got your order in yet?

Chris has my twenty quid in his hot little hand. I ordered it yesterday .

You'd think they'd sell SD cards there - just so you can bung them in passing cameras and try them out.

Good news about the K5 focus speed. I won't be getting one any time soon but if it shuts the moaning minnies up I'll be happy

K.

Not a chance of that I fear Kris - they will always find something wrong with it, or declare it still not fast enough.

The K5 sounds like sweet music to my ears, but i think I will wait for some really in depth reviews and then wait a little longer for the price to drop a little so that I can justify buying another camera, even if it is a Pentax K5.

Fletcher8

Thanks for sharing, Gwyn! Good to hear that you're happy with the K5. I've only had my K20D for about 6 months, so the K5 will have to wait a bit. Maybe I can buy yours when you're ready for the K3/K1.

URGHHH!

Fancy going to a photo show with mucky paws

At least you may have left someone an SD card in a K5

K5 sounds right up my street, unfortunately Chris will have to wait for my £20 till the price levels off a bit

Nice to hear a hands-on report about focussing the new DC lens Gwyn. Thanks for sharing, sounds very promising.

Don't feel bad Gwyn... I misplaced a memory card last week....
Gerri had laid out a book for a boudoir customer and dropped it onto a card for me to take to the pro lab for printing.

I got to the city... no card... clients not so clothed images in the wind....

I got back on my motorcycle and raced home, thoughts of fleeing the country racing through my mind as I braked only for photo-radar traps....
got home and found the stupid thing on the ground where I park my bike.... I guess it fell out when I went for my bike key.... Good thing we live out in the sticks and seldom get unannounced visitors!

I usually lock the suckers in a keyfob on my key ring.... why I just stuck this one in my pocket is beyond me....
stupid way to treat a customers work.... hate to think what it would do to business to have something like that turn up on the net!

Good to hear that you are in love

Thanks for taking the time to post your report.

Good choice to purchase from Chris.

Yep Gwyn, I am up for it. Guess the only thing that puts me off an immediate purchase, is that early versions always have the bugs.

What do people think - am I being over cautious

Not at all, early adopters always seem to have problems, and of course invariably pay more for the dubious honour of having the latest kit.

You guys really know how to cheer a girl up .